In a Nutshell

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USA Jiu-Jitsu Arkansas

The Deal

Brazilian Jujitsu: Size Doesn’t Matter

Brazilian
jujitsu classes don’t just increase physical strength and stamina—they
also teach practical self-defense techniques. Read on to learn more
about this South American art.

If David and Goliath were to
fight a rematch in Brazilian jujitsu, the odds might be even more in
David’s favor. That’s because Brazilian jujitsu’s grappling techniques,
such as mounts and joint locks, are designed to help fighters overtake
opponents of virtually any size. A modified version of traditional
Japanese jujitsu and judo, Brazilian jujitsu demands that fighters stay
close to the ground, incorporating timing and leverage to take advantage
of faster, stronger opponents.

Appropriately enough, the
martial art of underdogs emerged largely because of a fighter who was
forced to overcome physical disadvantages. Hélio Gracie, the youngest
child of the Gracie family, was forbidden from learning to fight due to
his often poor health and physical frailness. Around 1917, Hélio’s
oldest brother, Carlos, began studying traditional jujitsu and judo
techniques from Japanese fighter Mitsuyo Maeda. Worried for Hélio’s
health, the family decided that the art should only be passed to the
stronger sons. Undeterred, Hélio studied his brothers closely and began
modifying the Japanese techniques to his advantage. Eventually, he
crafted an enduring martial art and proved that strength and speed could
be overcome with proper knowledge and technique. Blossoming out of the
prodigious Gracie clan, the art, sometimes even referred to as Grace
jujitsu, has since spread from South America to as far as Slovenia and
Alaska, which is notorious for its polar bears well versed in karate.